SUMMIT – Like a scene from “The Natural,” Hoby Mullins shiftedgears and positions Friday night, making play after play as he andhis Franklin County All-Star teammates delivered in the clutch fora 6-5 win over Walthall County in the second round of the DixieYouth Baseball SubDistrict 7 Major League Tournament a the WindsorGay Sports Complex.

The 12-year old Mullins, coached by his father Tony Mullins andhis uncle Brad Mullins moved from shortstop to pitcher in the fifthinning in a game deadlocked at 5-apiece, with Franklin Countydesperatly needing an out to get out of the inning.

After catching a line drive in the top of the fifth, the FCAll-Stars went to work at the plate in the bottom of the fifthcollecting a lead-off single by Mullins. FC’s Derrick Brumfieldwould add his second double of the night, by knocking Mullins inmoments later with a hit that hopped to the fence.

In the top of the sixth, Walthall County loaded the bases withone out, before Mullins struck out the remaining two batters with aknuckleball that kept batters guessing. At the plate he had twosingles and scored two runs.

The victory, Franklin County’s second in the tournament didn’tcome easy. FC took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, off a wild pitchthat scored Zayne Mullins.

Franklin County starter Trey Bailey pitched 3-1/3 innings,striking out three. Zach Dickerson added an RBI double to make it5-0 in the third, before Walthall’s Anthony Williams cut the scoreto 5-3 with a 3-run homer in the fourth.

Walthall County would add two more runs in the fifth, beforeHoby Mullins’ heriocs lifted Franklin County into a post gamecelebration following the final strikeout.